Before I could react, Jinx did. Jinx’s fist flew at Runner and knocked him back several steps. Impressed, I nodded at the power that Jinx had put into the blow.
“Asshole, I don’t like your insinuations,” Jinx said emotionally.
Runner touched his jaw and wriggled it. “Bet you hate hearing the truth? Fuckin’ faggot.”
Jinx launched before I could restrain him. He barrelled into Runner and tackled him to the ground. Runner clearly hadn’t expected Jinx’s reaction because he went down far too easily. Jinx got the upper hand and began laying into Runner. Runner held his arms above his face in an attempt to stop Jinx before trying to fight back. He sucker-punched Jinx, who took it on the chin like a man.
Damn, I guessed Runner realised he wasn’t going to win as I glimpsed metal, and I yelled, “Blade!”
Jinx just rolled out of the way as I launched forward and kicked Runner’s hand. The knife flew from it, and Jinx gasped as he reeled back.
“What the hell’s happening?” an angry voice demanded. Crap, I peered up and saw Diesel glowering.
“Shit,” Jinx muttered as he paled and held his shoulder. Blood seeped through his fingers, and a horrified realisation came over me.
“Runner stabbed you!” I drew a breath as I kicked Runner in the head, knocking him unconscious, and hurried across to Jinx.
“Someone wanna tell me what the fuck is going on?” Diesel snapped as he moved over to Jinx. He removed Jinx’s hand and tore Jinx’s tee. “That needs stitches, prospect.”
“Guessed that.” Jinx managed a rueful chuckle, although it was clear he was in pain.
“Go get Tati; she’s stitched a few of us up. She’ll be at home right now,” Diesel ordered as he yanked his phone and tapped on the screen.
I nodded and rushed out and headed towards Big Al’s house. The big guy was on his porch drinking coffee as I raced up minutes later.
“Harlequin?” he growled out, not looking happy to see me.
“We need Tati. Runner stabbed Jinx, and Diesel said she can stitch him up.”
“Tati! Bring the first-aid kit!” Big Al roared. I turned to head back, but Big Al stopped me. “What took place, prospect?”
“Sorry, I have to—”
“Explain to me, and that’s an order,” Big Al replied and cut me off.
As much as I wanted to return to Jinx, I couldn’t disobey a direct command from the club’s founder and chaplain. Quickly, I explained what had happened and what I’d walked into as Tati rushed past and headed for her car. While they lived in the residential area Hellfire MC was building, near the clubhouse, it would still take ten minutes to walk there.
Big Al rose to his feet and chucked the remains of his coffee over the railings of the porch before striding into the house.
“Come on, lad,” he ordered when he reappeared. “Hellfire don’t hold with prospects attacking other prospects.”
I followed Big Al back to the clubhouse and discovered Jinx on a couch and Tati in front of him, sewing up a four-inch gash on his shoulder.
“You okay?” I asked.
“Yeah. Tati’s being gentle,” Jinx said with a smile.
The kid was lying; we all knew it, but typical Jinx—he wanted to put Tati at ease.
“Wanna tell me what the fuck happened with prospects knifing prospects?” Chance demanded, and I finally realised that most of the inner circle was here. The door flew open, and Fanatic stormed in.
“Jinx?” he called as his eyes scanned the space. Fanatic saw Jinx and crossed the room.
“Bro, I’m okay,” Jinx replied.
“Nah. This shit is done. I’ve not liked Runner for a while and thought he was a bad apple. Tell you now, that fuck will never get my vote, so you might as well kick him,” Fanatic said, turning to Chance.
Chance’s eyebrows rose at Fanatic’s tone. “That’s a harsh stance for a newly minted brother.”
